WILCO, SPIRITUALIZED, LIANNE LA HAVAS, FUTURE CINEMA’S BUGSY SPECTACULAR, LAKESIDE SPA, OTTOLENGHI BANQUETS AND VINTAGE FESTIVAL… JUST SOME OF THE DELIGHTS THAT WOWED THE 14,000 FESTIVAL-GOERS THIS WEEKEND 

Winner of the Best New Festival Award in 2011, Wilderness returned for it’s second installment with a sumptuous celebration of outdoor arts at Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. Over 14,000 people flocked to the festival, which offers unique artistic experiences, inspirational music, sumptuous banquets, stimulating talks and debates, immersive theatre experiences, exciting late night parties and a cinematic spectacular from Future Cinema. 

Festival-goers enjoyed the sounds of Spiritualized, The Temper Trap, Jake Bugg and rising star, Lianne La Havas, as well as a whole host of acts from the London Folk Guild. 

Food lovers feasted on epicurean delights from Yotam Ottolenghi, Valentine Warner and Fergus Henderson in the banqueting tents, while over 30 speakers took to the stage in the Secret Forum, which included School of Life, Tali Sharot, Tom Hogkinson and Oliver Burkeman.

In a festival debut, Wilderness saw the first ever site takeover from Future Cinema with their production of Bugsy Malone. A huge splurge fight took place and revelers enjoyed cocktails in the 1920’s themed speakeasy bars, while the film was being screened.

During the day festival-goers had the opportunity to go swimming and boating on the lakes, take a camel ride and watch a variety of operatic and theatrical performances from the likes of Petersham Playhouse, Oxford Playhouse and Creation and The Factory.

At dusk, people reveled at a host of late night parties including The Old Vic Tunnels midnight masked ball, Secret Garden Party ‘Rise of the Tribes’ and Boom Boom Club.

Saturday and Sunday bought a touch of glamour to Wilderness when the Vintage Festival area opened. Festival-goers had dancing lessons in the Torch Club, learned new skills in the Vintage sewing schools, went roller-skating and partied in the Soul Casino to the likes of Norman Jay, Eddie Pillar and Craig Charles.

Festival organiser Tim Harvey says: “Without doubt, Wilderness has been the smash hit of this year’s festival season. For three sun-drenched days, a 14,000-person audience has experienced some outstanding arts experiences – from spectacular main stage shows of Temper Trap and Wilco to the intimate brilliance of theatre trails and lakeside spas. It’s been one of the finest shows we’ve ever produced and we can’t wait to get started on next year’s festival plans.”

Lady Rotherwick says: “I’m overjoyed with the success of the festival this year. I’ve spent so much time in the park this weekend with my friends and family enjoying the music, banquets and all theother activities across the site.

“Watching 14,000 people walking around the estate with big smiles on their faces and experiencing all that Wilderness has to offer makes me so proud. I’m already looking forward to Wilderness 2013!”

Tickets for next year’s festival go on-sale September. 

Photo's: BenJamin Eagle